Two Roman Catholic nurses have won the right not to work in an abortion clinic after they accused the NHS of breaching equality laws. The case is believed to be the first in which the Equality Act has been used successfully to defend a ‘pro-life’ position as a philosophical belief and could have implications for other Christian medical staff. The nurses were moved from their normal nursing duties at a London hospital to work once a week at an abortion clinic. When the nurses discovered that they were participating in abortions they objected but were told by managers that they must continue with the work. One hospital manager allegedly told the pair: ‘What would happen if we allowed all the Christian nurses to refuse?’ The case marks a rare example of equality laws being used to protect the rights of Christians. Previously judges have been criticised for interpreting equality and human rights legislation in ways that allegedly ‘marginalise’ religious beliefs.

Pray: that this is a turning point and that the Equality act will, in future, protect the rights of Christians. (Dt.12:28)

More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8698042/Catholic-nurses-use-Equality-Act-to-protect-their-pro-life-beliefs.html

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales is to call upon churchgoers to take a stand against the Government’s plans to legalise gay marriage. Archbishop Vincent Nichols has outlined his opposition in a pastoral letter to be read out during mass this Sunday. It warns that the proposal ‘threatens the true meaning of a sacred union’ and signals a ‘profoundly radical step’ that will strip marriage of its ‘distinctive nature’. The letter is co-signed by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Southwark, the Most Rev Peter Smith. It argues that marriage as a union between a man and a woman should remain the ‘foundation of our society’. The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, was more scathing in his attack on the Government’s plans at the weekend. He said it was clear that the proposal was ‘not
about rights but rather is an attempt to redefine marriage at the behest of a small minority of activists’. See ‘Coalition for Marriage’ petition http://c4m.org.uk/ and last week’s Prayer Alert.

Pray: that this pastoral letter will challenge its church members to take a stand and pray that the wider church will also take up the challenge. (Heb.13:4)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/catholic.leader.rallies.church.to.oppose.gay.marriage.plans/29431.htm

The Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has launched its first outreach campaign to get people back into church, with its lapsed membership thought to number as many as five million. It started at the weekend in York with Crossing the Threshold, a national tour of talks and workshops to help clergy and parishioners re-evangelise friends and family. Around a million people regularly attend mass on Sundays, but church leaders say there are many more who are baptised but do not go. Kieran Conry, Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, said ‘There are probably people out there who would like to come back but don't know how to go about it. There is a fear of standing out, of doing the wrong thing.’ Churches could be intimidating places, said Conry, and it was important for those taking part to offer a personal invitation to lapsed Catholics to return. The tour will also take in Birmingham, Crawley and Cardiff.

Pray: for all those who have drifted away from church of any denomination that they may once again find fellowship there. (Mal.3:6)

More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/13/catholic-church-reevangelise-campaign

Catholic Care, a Catholic adoption agency operating in the diocese of Leeds, has appealed a ruling made by a Tribunal last month that they must offer their adoption services to homosexual couples. The charity has long refused to place children with homosexual couples, stating that such a practice goes against the teaching of the Catholic Church and would result in a significant loss of funding, since most donors are Catholics themselves. Benjamin James, the lawyer representing Catholic Care, said that he had identified a number of errors with the judgment. Catholic Care had previously argued that the Equality Act 2010 allows for discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation if it is 'a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim'. If ‘leave to appeal’ is granted, it will be the eighth stage of what has been a lengthy case. (See Prayer Alert 3410, 2010 & 1110)

Pray: that ‘leave to appeal’ is granted and will lead to a successful conclusion. (Pr.21:30)

More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/sexual-orientation/catholic-adoption-agency-continues-fight

Manchester Cathedral is to host a controversial new age festival in May which is set to include card readings, mysticism, dream interpretations and a fire breathing vicar. The Christian Spirituality fair is also expected to include a workshop on ‘Meditating on icons as doors into the mystic realm’. Its location in the historic Church of England building is likely to alarm many Christians. ‘Explore’ The fair is set to include Jesus Deck readings, a type of Bible study based on a card drawn from a pack of cards. The ‘Christian symbolism of gem stones’ and an exploration of the ‘relationship between the Goddess and Christian tradition to uncover the divine feminine in Christianity’ are also expected to feature at the event. The Bishop of Manchester, Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch said: ‘The event is a chance to discover and explore old and new Christian spiritual traditions.’

Pray: for the Church authorities as they allow the exploration of alternative faiths and spirituality that God would intervene and bring His revelation and truth. (Gal.1:12)

More: http://www.theway.co.uk/feature.php?id=8413&this=Church_of_England_cathedral_to_host_

A Schizophrenia Commission report said care for people with schizophrenia requires a major overhaul. Patients spend too long in ‘demoralised and dysfunctional’ hospital wards costing £12bn a year. Schizophrenia affects thinking, feeling and behaviour. There is a need for more early intervention teams to help people before their hallucinations or delusions become severe. Teams are being cut or diluted at the moment and secure care took 19% of the 2011 mental health budget with many people staying too long in expensive units. In inner cities secure units were compared to mental institutions with nurses often overwhelmed. Better use of ‘recovery houses’ providing an alternative to hospital admission are needed. Schizophrenia affects 1 in every 100 people. Schizophrenia is believed to make people violent, but people with schizophrenia are more likely to be victims of violence by others. Pray for people with mental health problems to have the same dignified care as anyone else.

Pray: that the Government would consider mental health a priority and improve out-patient care and in-patient units. (Is.32:4, 17-18)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20300506

Health officials in the United Kingdom are warning of possible catastrophic consequences after the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. One of the reasons antibiotic resistance is on the increase is the fact that bacteria are adapting quicker than researchers can develop new drugs to fight them, according to England's chief medical officer. "Antimicrobial resistance poses a catastrophic threat. If we don't act now, any one of us could go into hospital in 20 years for minor surgery and die because of an ordinary infection that can't be treated by antibiotics," Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, told Reuters. She added that there have only been a few drugs successfully developed and made available on the market in the past few decades which led to the current situation. It also means that procedures that were once thought to be routine may pose a serious health risk to patients.

Pray: for the work of medical researchers as they seek to find new solutions to this problem. (Ac.10:38)

More: http://global.christianpost.com/news/catastrophic-antibiotic-threat-untreatable-infections-coming-uk-and-us-doctors-warn-91611/

The number of confirmed and suspected cases of legionnaires' disease in Edinburgh had risen to 80 by last Saturday withevery prospect of further cases being confirmed. Patients being treated in Scotland's biggest outbreak of the disease include 15 cases in intensive care. On Friday the North British Distillery in Edinburgh was served with an improvement notice by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). However, both the firm and health inspectors said the order did not mean that its three cooling towers were the definitive source of the outbreak. The Health and Safety Executive and Edinburgh City Council are continuing their investigations into the possible source of the outbreak. Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's Health Minister said: ‘Although there has been a rise in the number of confirmed cases, it is reassuring to see that the number of suspected cases is decreasing and that 16 people have now been discharged from hospital.’

Pray: for all those affected by the disease and for the authorities to be able to resolve the problem at its source. (Ps.116:15)

More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9321587/Cases-of-legionnaires-in-Edinburgh-rise-to-80.html

Christian social policy charity CARE has welcomed the findings of a major review into the commercialisation and sexualisation of children. The review, headed up by Mothers’ Union chief Reg Bailey, makes a number of recommendations aimed at tightening up regulations on sexualised media, marketing and retail. They include putting age restrictions on raunchy music videos and banning sexy billboard ads near schools. The Bailey Report also recommends an end to the sale of inappropriate clothing for children such as padded bras or T-shirts emblazoned with provocative slogans such as ‘porn star’. Magazines and newspapers with sexualised images on the front page should be kept out of the sight of children and parents should be given the right to choose at the point of purchase whether they want adult content on their home internet, laptops or smart phones. Broadcasters will also be under pressure to pay greater attention to the concerns of parents.

Pray: for the authorities to increase the pressure on all those who seek to gain from sexualisation of children. (Mk.7:20-22)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/care.welcomes.review.on.sexualisation.of.childhood/28105.htm